The Sd.Kfz. 222 model is here

History :

During the interwar period,armored vehicles were developed in several directions. Some countries built the cheapest possible armored reconnaissance cars on the chassis of passenger cars. French first put the emphasis on half-track chassis, and later to all-wheel drive. In Germany, the Reichswehr command first saw the optimal armored car as a 4-axle all-wheel drive vehicle (eight wheels) that could also swim. However, later the concept changed. In the early 30s, instead of a heavy all-wheel drive armored car, two appeared – a light 2-axle and a heavy 3-axle. The simplest was the light armored car, which was a passenger car that was partially armored. Since 1933, the Daimler-Benz werk 40 plant began producing light airborne reconnaissance cars Kfz.13 and Kfz.14. They were something like American « scouts », but even more primitive. At the same time, already at the beginning of 1934, the leichter Panzerspähwagen program appeared. It implied the creation of a family of all-wheel drive armored reconnaissance vehicles. At the same time, instead of the Kfz.13, two vehicles were planned. The first was the leichter Panzerspähwagen (MG), known as Sd.Kfz.221. In our case, we will talk about the leichter Panzerspähwagen (2 cm), also known as Sd.Kfz.222. Initially, it was intended to be the least popular armored car of the family. In reality, it became the most popular German armored vehicle of the war. And at the same time, one of the most characteristic examples of German armored vehicles. When at the beginning of 1934 Horch received the task for a single chassis Einheitsfahrgestell I für s.Pkw, an understanding had already been formed of what would be built on it. New armored reconnaissance cars replaced the Kfz.13 and Kfz.14, largely repeating their purpose on the battlefield. At the same time, back in the early 30s, a logical idea appeared that a machine gun alone was not enough. Despite the fact that the fight against enemy armored vehicles was not the main task of reconnaissance vehicles, the probability of encountering them was very high. Therefore, the original design of the Kleintraktor, a German reconnaissance tank, initially assumed armament in the form of a 20-mm automatic cannon. The further development of the Kleintraktor, designated La.S., did not receive a 20-mm automatic cannon. It simply didn’t fit in, and neither did the third crew member. This did not stop In. Already at the beginning of 1934, work began on the La.S.100, future Pz.Kpfw.II. In fact, it was clearly not a reconnaissance tank, but rather an analogue of the Vickers Mk.E. But the idea of ​​a scout armed with 2 cm KwK has not gone away. Such weapons were installed on 3-axle schwerer Panzerspähwagen; theoretically, they could fit on a lighter chassis. It may seem that the Germans were initially engaged in nonsense. Why, in principle, was it initially necessary to make a purely machine-gun leichter Panzerspähwagen (MG) if it cannot stand up for itself ? The answer to the question lies in a different answer than weapons. The 20-mm KwK 30 automatic cannon was not only more powerful, but also noticeably larger than the MG 13 machine gun. And at the same time heavier. A larger installation meant a change in the body, which, suddenly, also meant an increase in mass. Even according to the most conservative estimates, the more powerful weapons carried an extra half a ton. Which were not harmless at all. Therefore, the leichter Panzerspähwagen (2 cm), the designation given to the armored reconnaissance car with the 2 cm KwK 30, was an addition to, but not a replacement for, the leichter Panzerspähwagen (MG). According to the concept, the armored vehicle, later designated Sd.Kfz.222, became a means of strengthening the Sd.Kfz.221 machine guns. At the same time, it wasn’t the Sd.Kfz.221 with a new turret. it simply wouldn’t fit in there. If the hull of the Sd.Kfz.221 was built around the chassis, then in the case of the Sd.Kfz.222 an equally important element was the installation of 2 cm KwK 30. Conceptually, the 2 cm Sockellafette was somewhat similar to the installation of the Sd.Kfz.221. It also had, as a base, a cabinet screwed to a pedestal on the frame. The fundamental difference was that the 2 cm Sockellafette assumed two crew members – a gunner/commander and a loader. Instead of a height-adjustable swivel, there was a full-fledged installation of a 2 cm KwK 30 and a coaxial MG 13 machine gun. Full-fledged aiming mechanisms were used, as well as a foot trigger. The tower, like on Sd.Kfz.221, was connected to a pedestal installation. Its construction was similar, that is, with folding nets for protection against grenades, as well as inspection hatches. 2 cm Sockellafette provided vertical aiming angles ranging from -7 to +80 degrees. These are very decent indicators, which made it possible to use the armored vehicle for anti-aircraft fire. The presence of a 2 cm Sockellafette made the Sd.Kfz.222 the most heavily armed armored vehicle in its class. However, you have to pay for everything. A double turret means a significantly larger diameter of the shoulder strap and therefore a larger hull width. It was similar to the Sd.Kfz.221, unified in a number of details, but nothing more. Even the body was different from the leichter Panzerspähwagen (MG). For example, in front there was not a single inspection hatch for 2 devices, but 2 separate hatches. Potentially, the control compartment could have accommodated two, but they did not carry ballast. The combat weight of the Sd.Kfz.222 was 4.8 tons. There were no miracles – the speed decreased by 10 km/h (70 km/h maximum and 40 km/h average on the highway). Cross-country ability on off-road and difficult country roads had also decreased. That is why the armored car was more of a means of reinforcement. According to the contract of the first series, 72 of them were delivered, which is 2 times less than the Sd.Kfz.221. Of these, 10 were delivered by Daimler-Benz werk 40, another 26 were delivered by the Deutsche Werke AG shipyard and 36 by the Schichau-Werke shipyard. The situation changed in the case of armored vehicles of the second series. This turned out to be more likely due to the production capabilities of Weserhütte, where they mastered the production of Sd.Kfz.221. There they handed over 46 units of the second series, while Schichau-Werke handed over 72 Sd.Kfz.222 of the second series. In the case of the third series, Weserhütte delivered 150 Sd.Kfz.221s, while Schichau-Werke, between June 1939 and January 1940, delivered 64 Sd.Kfz.222s of the third series. Then the situation began to develop according to a different scenario. The very first month of World War II clearly showed that the idea of ​​a light armored reconnaissance vehicle was not entirely correct. It became clear that the presence of a 20-mm automatic cannon is mandatory. In addition, the concept of a single turret turned out to be a mistake. The commander of an armored reconnaissance vehicle should not be overloaded. In a word, the Sd.Kfz.221’s chances for the fourth series have disappeared. If they existed, they were forgotten after the start of the war. On May 6, 1939, a contract was signed for the production of the Horch 801 chassis of the fourth production series. The chassis itself changed little, which cannot be said about the armored cars that were built on its basis. The 4th series chassis itself began to cost in July 1940, when the issue around the Sd.Kfz.221 was finally closed. A total of 596 chassis of the 4th series were produced (serial numbers 810818-810414), of which 232 were used for the Sd.Kfz.222. Series 4 armored vehicles were produced based on the results of combat experience. It turned out that the aft air ducts of the cooling system were vulnerable to enemy fire, so a cap was added to protect the aft air intake. It was first introduced on the 3rd series. The tower’s viewing devices have changed, and the height of the protective mesh has also increased. This made it possible to fire at a fairly large elevation of the trunks without folding the reticle. Additional equipment also appeared for combat operations in hot countries (the latter was useful in North Africa). The 4th series was the last for the Horch 801 chassis. Based on the results of the first combat use, it turned out that the idea of ​​a chassis based on the Horch 801 was not bad, but reinforcement was still required. Especially considering that the Sd.Kfz.222 has now become the base armored car. Therefore, in 1939, the development of a more advanced chassis began – Einheitsfahrgestell I für s.Pkw. Type Horch 801v. It was already noticeably different from the Horch 801; the armored car’s suspension was already difficult to confuse. A more powerful 3.8-liter engine also appeared, developing 90 horsepower. The first Horch 801v chassis were ready in June 1940, but they went into large production in January 1942. The transition to a military footing affected the pace of production: 681 chassis were delivered in 1942, another 310 in 4 months of 1943. A total of 994 chassis were delivered (serial numbers 8110001-811094), but 991 chassis went directly to armored cars. The new chassis was used to produce the most widespread, fifth production series Sd.Kfz.222. It became the most perfect. Due to the more powerful motor, the speed increased to 85 km/h. An equally important point was the long-awaited appearance of the Fu.Spr.Ger.f radio station, whose whip antenna was located in the rear of the tower. The tower grid was lowered, apparently, the higher version did not suit the court. The body kit has also changed somewhat. In addition to Schichau-Werke (200 units), Büssing-NAG (350 units) also produced the Sd.Kfz.222 of the fifth production series. The first armored vehicles were delivered in May 1942, and the last in June 1943. This marked the end of production of the Sd.Kfz.222. By that time, it became completely clear that the future belonged to the half-track reconnaissance armored personnel carrier Sd.Kfz.250/9. It should be noted that the armored vehicles of the fifth series, so as not to be confused with earlier types, began to be called Sd.Kfz.222 Ausf.B. Earlier armored cars were designated Sd.Kfz.222 Ausf.A. As mentioned above, the fate of the Sd.Kfz.222 was initially predetermined as a means of strengthening the Sd.Kfz.221. The state of K.St.N.1162 (a company of armored reconnaissance cars) dated October 1, 1938 indicated 4 such armored cars in the 3rd platoon. They were supposed to cover machine-gun armored reconnaissance cars. At the same time, the word “light” in relation to the Sd.Kfz.222 would cause a slight laugh from russian view. The BA-10 cannon medium armored car had a very similar mass. It must be said that even the obvious problems that emerged first in the Polish and then in the French campaign did not mean that the Sd.Kfz.222 would quickly replace the Sd.Kfz.221. A change in leadership occurred already in 1941, when armored vehicles of the 4th production series poured into the troops. Already by the beginning of Operation Barbarossa, the 222nd were the most popular light armored cars. And as a result, they became the most popular German armored vehicles. A total of 990 of them were handed over. However, not everything is so simple. The most popular does not mean “best in class”. In fact, the Sd.Kfz.222 occupied the niche not of a “scout”, but of a medium armored vehicle. And here everything looked extremely ambiguous, both in terms of characteristics and weapons. The closest in mass to the German armored car was the BA-10, which clearly surpassed it. In terms of performance characteristics, it was close to a wheeled tank, surpassing the German armored car in protection and maneuverability. And then there was the Panhard 178, which was superior to the Sd.Kfz.222 in all respects. By the way, both the BA-10 and the Panhard 178 had radio stations, which began to be installed on the Sd.Kfz.222 only in 1942. It should be noted that one Sd.Kfz.222 was captured in the summer of 1941 and sent for study to Kubinka, at the NIBT Test Site. This armored vehicle was known as “Horch No. 2” (armored car No. 1 was Sd.Kfz.223). Frankly speaking, the armored car was not impressive, given that there was already an LB-62, it is not surprising. Unlike the Sd.Kfz.223, from which the BA-64 was equipped with a machine gun mount, there were no attempts to copy the 2 cm Sockellafette. And in the rest of the world they preferred closed turrets for armored vehicles. The appearance of the Horch 801v chassis improved the cross-country ability, but not much. The peak of Sd.Kfz.222 production coincided, oddly enough, with its decline. The Sd.Kfz.250 chassis turned out to be more successful, and the cross-country ability was much higher. After the appearance of the Sd.Kfz.250/9 Ausf.A, which initially had the same 2 cm Sockellafette installation, armored cars began to be gradually forced out of the troops. However, in terms of production volumes, the Sd.Kfz.222 remained unsurpassed. Despite some shortcomings, for its time the Sd.Kfz.222 was clearly the best armored car in its class (if we consider it an analogue of the BA-20, for example). In addition, the car is very well known for its charismatic appearance. It definitely cannot be confused with any other armored car.

text from Yuri Pasholok